The Breast Care Centre at Tawam Hospital in affiliation with John Hopkins recently held an open discussion and informal lecture on the myths and facts of breast cancer, with the key message focused on the importance of early detection.

The breast cancer awareness coffee morning was organised by home appliance retailer Better Life, in association with Abu Dhabi Ladies. The meeting was held at Better Life’s recently-opened store in Al Wadha Mall.

Dr Ghuwaya Al Neyadi, family physician and centre coordinator at Tawam Hospital shared vital information about breast cancer causes and risk factors, while cancer survivor Nadia Arbelo shared her inspiring story.

With one in nine women diagnosed with breast cancer, raising awareness and educating the community is potentially life-saving.

“Women normally discover the cancer in the later stages of the disease because they are not aware of the signs and risk factors,” said Dr Al Neyadi.

“The most important message we can impart to women, through meetings such as this, is early detection – it will save lives,” she expalined.

Dr Al Neyadi added that by providing the setting and coordinating the event, Better Life had become the connection between health professionals and the community.

“Events such as the breast cancer awareness coffee morning not only help the women who attend, these ladies will share the information they gained creating a ripple effect through their friends and a wider circle of women,” commented Kay Bunney, chairman of Abu Dhabi Ladies.

Bunney added that the gathering served to keep breast cancer in the forefront as a topic of regular conversation, prompting women to consider and apply the advice in regard to self-testing and regular mammograms, for example.

Better Life intends to host a series of monthly meetings aimed at spreading awareness on relevant health issues among working professionals and housewives.

These meetings can be attended by women of various ages and nationalities, and different walks of life. – TradeArabia News Service